Black Pepper Beef

Summary: Some pairings work so well together that they span generations and even continents. Romeo and Juliet, Bert and Ernie, and Michael Jordan and Nike are some that come to mind. In the world of food, there are few combinations as fabled as pepper and steak.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

500 g (18 ounces) beef filet or other tender cut, cut into 1/2″ cubes

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)

2 teaspoons potato starch (or corn starch)

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

1 small green bell pepper, cut into 1/2″ squares

1 onion, cut into 1/2″ squares

Instructions

Put the peppercorns in a mortar and use a pestle to crush the pepper into large pieces. You don’t want any whole peppercorns, but it should be very coarse.

Put the beef into a bowl and add 3/4 of the black pepper in with it along with the oyster sauce, Shaoxing, potato starch, soy sauce and sesame oil. Mix thoroughly and let this marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Heat a wok or cast iron skillet over high heat until hot. Add the oil, and then immediately add the beef, leaving any marinade in the bowl for later. Fry one side until browned, and then use a hard spatula to stir-fry until the outside of the beef is cooked and browned. Add the garlic, bell peppers, and onions, and continue stir-frying. Add the remaining marinade and stir-fry until the onions are cooked.

Transfer immediately to a plate and garnish with the remaining black pepper.